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Ultimate Guide

2017 - 2018 Theater Season

Baltimore continues to thrive as a leader in the performing arts world. From state-of-the-art theaters to a world-renowned symphony and a plethora of live performance spaces, there is no shortage of exciting venues in Baltimore where you can enjoy a night out on the town.

Jump Ahead to Your Interest

Hippodrome Theater

Everyman Theatre

Center Stage

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Iron Crow Theatre

Experience the phenomenon. The most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the stage. Visually stunning, technically astounding and with a musical score like none other you’ve ever heard.

Giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap. The entire savannah comes to life and as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist.

See the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation that Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment.” The New York Times says, “There is simply nothing else like it.”

Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by a cast of more than 40 actors. Wonder at the inspiration of award-winning director Julie Taymor, who created visual images for this show that you’ll remember forever.

Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.”

Celebrate this Christmas with the experience taking North America by storm! Marking the 25th Anniversary Tour, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker features over-the-top production and world class Russian artists. Larger than life Puppets, Nesting Dolls and gloriously hand-crafted costumes bring the Christmas spirit to life. Gather the family and see why the press is raving “Knock Out!” – New York Times & “Christmas Cheer!” – LA Times.

Inspired by Adrienne Shelly's beloved film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna - a waitress and expert pie maker, Jenna dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.

"Waitress is a little slice of heaven!" says Entertainment Weekly and "a monumental contribution to Broadway!" according to Marie Claire. Don't miss this uplifting musical celebrating friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Wearing her heart on her sleeve while sewing intimates for her clientele, Esther is the talented African American seamstress in turn-of-the-century New York who has built a savings for herself making beautiful undergarments—while earnestly daydreaming of new beginnings, romantic possibilities, and the lingering affection she shares with a Jewish fabric merchant. But when an egregious deception cuts short heartfelt desires, can class, culture and circumstance outmatch the strength of human spirit? Inspired by a true story, Intimate Apparel is a heart-rending contemporary work in the style of an enduring classic—from the first female playwright to win two Pulitzers.

Greetings from the French Revolution—where heads will roll. When you put former queen Marie Antoinette, assassin Charlotte Corday, playwright Olympe de Gouges, and Caribbean spy Marianne Angelle in a room together, literally ANYTHING can happen—especially big laughs! France’s fight for equality and freedom propels itself to modern times with this bold, brave and blisteringly funny new work about feminism, legacy and standing up for one’s beliefs. Who runs the world? The jury’s still out, but these girls sure as hell changed it.

What begins as an ordinary summer day at the Connecticut home of the Tyrone family morphs into a night filled with foggy, drink-laced demons where long-buried secrets are revealed—and once exposed cannot be ignored. A long-revered showcase for tour-de-force performances, Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning masterpiece (published posthumously) lays bare what we all know to be true: the ardor of familial love cannot always protect you. Long Day’s Journey Into Night is an autobiographical insight into its late, legendary playwright—and a compassionately brutal look at one family’s struggle to fight for and love itself.

When words fail, a home-cooked meal transcends differences in this touching story of intergenerational connectedness, forgiveness and the sweetest spice of life: love. As a Korean family struggles to relate across emotional and cultural divides, it’s the ingredients they share in common that lead to understanding. A perceptive and lyrical exploration of the act of cooking as a form of expression, Aubergine is a mouthwatering meditation on the beauty of life where hope is no mere ingredient—it’s the main course.

Like so many great mysteries, it all began in an attic with a dusty old suitcase... The discovery of a stash of letters stamped with Swastikas opens clues to an untold family history spanning multiple generations in The Book of Joseph—the gripping true story of resilience and truth-tracking determination spanning Baltimore and beyond. Richard Hollander’s book, Every Day Lasts a Year: A Jewish Family’s Correspondence from Poland, is brought to the stage in this mesmerizing new adaptation that restores a family’s uncharted legacy—celebrated by revelation and remembrance.

This one’s for Eeveryone“Shall I compare thee to a something something… mummers play?” And so begins one of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets, and this charming story of love, inspiration, muses, and art, based on the Oscar-winning film. This smart and poignant tale offers a smattering of allusions that will delight anyone familiar with the Bard—or simply the English language. This story is as crowd-pleasing as mistaken identities, a shipwreck, and love triumphant, and is set in a time when a Londoner could still utter the words: “Shakespeare? Never heard of him.” A great play for the entire family.

For the familyFall down the rabbit hole with Alice and a cast of characters as wild as whimsy and wicked as royalty. If you’re curiouser about the other side, David Catlin’s adapted tale will send you into a tailspin of queens and pawns, riddles and mind games, madness and tea parties. Our holiday season offering is perfect for the entire family, and children of all ages will delight in this wonderful world. Families can come together to build a theatergoing tradition and enjoy the spectacular realm created from author Lewis Carroll’s legendary imagination. Join us down the rabbit hole.

State of the nationFrom the playwright of Detroit ’67, Skeleton Crew (the third play in Dominique Morisseau’s acclaimed Detroit trilogy) tells the story of four workers at the last exporting auto plant in Detroit struggling to survive as their way of life disappears. Set around 2008, this play vividly portrays the modern struggle in a changing America, and reveals the real people on the factory line. This skeleton crew—the bare minimum number of staff needed to function—is made up of people who keep the vital operations of the plant running in the face of obstacles, rumors, and, eventually, the confirmation of their worst fears. Loyalties are tested and boundaries are crossed as this vibrant team of loyal and proud workers navigate an uncertain future.

Once upon a time, the animals revoltedOne day on Manor Farm, shortly before his death, an old boar named Major told the other animals about his dream. United by the realization that all animals have a common enemy—man—the animals revolted against the tyranny of forced work. They fought and gained their freedom and established a system of thought, Animalism, based on the wise words of the Major. All animals are comrades. All animals are equal. But as months and years pass, the exalted words of the Major become distorted, and the citizens of Animal Farm come to see that some animals are more equal than others.

Catch the holiday spirit with Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Our delightfully original adaptation of the Christmas classic is a celebration of Chesapeake culture and history. Miserly Scrooge lives in Victorian-era Baltimore. This one-of-a-kind A Christmas Carol spreads holiday cheer and Baltimore charm.

Tell a Teacher: Five school matinees will be scheduled in addition to our main stage productions. For school matinee details, contact Ron Heneghan or Robby Rose by email or call 410.244.8571, Ext. 113.

London, 1833. A legendary actor falls ill while playing Othello. To save the show, the producer hands the role to Ira Aldridge, an African-American actor. How will the cast and critics react? How will history record the revolution taking place in the theatre? Based on the true story, award-winning Red Velvet is making its Baltimore debut after wildly popular productions in London and New York. “Gripping, intelligent, and passionate” – The Financial Times (London).

TELL a TEACHER: Two school matinees will be scheduled in addition to our main stage productions. For school matinee details, contact Ron Heneghan or Robby Rose by email or call 410.244.8571, Ext. 113.

A jealous king, a lost princess, a comic and generous old shepherd, and a wondrous statue unite in a compelling fable of obsession, redemption, and rebirth. This beautiful and beguiling story follows the travails of a royal family torn apart by a false accusation of infidelity. Husband, wife, and daughter endure a dramatic separation that will, in a faraway springtime, yield fresh chances for each to find love.

This fantastical tale, full of clever wordplay and timeless characters, is as beloved by adults as by children. Animals speak in riddles, nonsense makes sense, and the adventures of young Alice reveal her pluck, intelligence, and imagination. Bring your kids! Bring your parents!

Tell a teacher: Four school matinees will be scheduled in addition to our main stage productions. For school matinee details, contact Ron Heneghan or Robby Rose by email or call 410.244.8571, Ext. 113.

Outdoors at the PFI Historic Park On the eve of a royal wedding, a quartet of lovers and a motley group of amateur actors visit a fairy-filled forest. When the worlds of mortals and fairies cross paths, mischief and mayhem follow – along with maybe the funniest scene Shakespeare ever wrote. Bring a picnic and share an enchanting night of romantic comedy under the stars in the PFI Historic Park, Ellicott City, our festival-style summer theatre home.

Iron Crow Theatre

The Goodies

December 1-10, 2017

This season Iron Crow Theatre debuts it's second original, devised work! The Goodies, featuring an all female cast of color, re-tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials, through the lens of modern day America. If, as the old adage states, history were to repeat itself, how would this mark in American history unfold again within the brave new world of the digital age? With fake news, nasty women, and the demonization of all "others", this horror story of our own history may not be as impossible as we think.

Please note that The Goodies explores mature themes and may contain adult language, partial nudity, sexual content and simulated violence. The Goodies may not be suitable for patrons under the age of 18.

A comedy of manners that spans centuries, Caryl Churchhill’s - Cloud 9 is a smart, satirical look at gender politics and sexual oppression across the ages. Written in 1978, this modern classic offers witty social commentary, controversial casting requirements, and if that weren't enough, time-travel! Taking us from the corsets of colonial Africa to the sexual liberation of 1970's England, Churchill’s parody pokes fun at nearly every permutation of human sexuality, and reminds us why the playwright remains a feminist hero and icon today.

Please note that Cloud 9 explores mature themes, contains adult language, sexual content and violence. Cloud 9 may not be suitable for patrons under the age of 18.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas in the 1950s, Joshua is a gay man who also happens to be the son of God. Terrence McNally’s contentious work is a modern queer retelling of the gospels depicting Jesus and the Apostles as gay men living in modern-day Texas. Known as the queer passion play, Corpus Christi follows Joshua from his birth in a seedy motel room to his senior prom, from gay disco to death by crucifixion. Often called blasphemous by religious protestors, this controversial play thoughtfully reframes the identity of the Christ figure while unpacking his essential lessons of love and faith.

Of Special Note: Premiering in New York City in 1998, The New York Times published an article linking the uproar in response to the production to the death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. Matthew Shepard's death inspired the creation of The Laramie Project to be proudced by Iron Crow Theatre in June of 2018.

Please note that Corpus Christi explores mature themes, contains adult language, sexual content and violence. Corpus Christi may not be suitable for patrons under the age of 18.

In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old openly gay student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, and left to die - tied to a fence in the middle of a prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming simply for being gay. His name was Matthew Shepard. Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to the lack of hate crime legislation across the nation and forced a small community to wrestle with it's identity on both the local and national levels. In this groundbreaking docudrama, Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project capture the human voice of Laramie.

With just 8 actors playing over 60 roles, The Laramie Project weaves together interviews, journal entries, and published news reports to create a breathtaking theatrical collage exploring the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.

Please note that The Laramie Project explores mature themes, contains adult language, and graphic retellings of violence. The Laramie Project may not be suitable for patrons under the age of 16.